Table 1.
Baseline characteristics of the study population by ischemic stroke case and control status.
| Non-case | Case | |
|---|---|---|
| N | 964 | 964 |
| Age, year | 68.7 (6.4) | 68.7 (6.4) |
| Race | ||
| African American | 79 (8) | 79 (8) |
| Native American | 5 (1) | 5 (1) |
| Asian | 21 (2) | 21 (2) |
| Hispanic | 20 (2) | 20 (2) |
| White | 826 (86) | 826 (86) |
| Other | 10 (1) | 10 (1) |
| Education | ||
| ≤ High school/GED | 226 (24) | 235 (25) |
| Some college/ training after high school | 358 (37) | 391 (41) |
| College graduate | 377 (39) | 330 (35) |
| Family income | ||
| <$35,000 | 427 (48) | 479 (54) |
| $35,000 to $74,999 | 332 (38) | 302 (34) |
| ≥$75,000 | 126 (14) | 114 (13) |
| Moderate/strenuous activities ≥20 minutes* | ||
| None | 121 (13) | 149 (16) |
| Some | 356 (37) | 419 (44) |
| 2-4 episodes/wk | 198 (21) | 160 (17) |
| >4 episodes/wk | 282 (29) | 225 (24) |
| Alcohol intake | ||
| Non-drinker | 111 (12) | 117 (12) |
| Past drinker | 177 (18) | 211 (22) |
| <7 drinks/wk | 559 (58) | 511 (53) |
| ≥7 drinks/wk | 116 (12) | 122 (13) |
| Blood pressure, mm Hg | ||
| Systolic* | 130 (18) | 137 (20) |
| Diastolic* | 74 (10) | 75 (10) |
| Hypertensiona* | 450 (47) | 647 (67) |
| Serum lipids, mg/dL | ||
| Total cholesterol | 231 (38) | 233 (39) |
| HDL-C* | 60 (16) | 57 (16) |
| LDL-C | 139 (37) | 141 (37) |
| Triglycerides* | 161 (80) | 180 (90) |
| Total cholesterol to HDL-C ratio* | 4.2 (1.4) | 4.4 (1.5) |
| BMI, kg/m2* | ||
| Mean | 27.0 (5.3) | 27.7 (5.9) |
| < 25.0 | 388 (41) | 330 (35) |
| 25.0 to 29.9 | 342 (36) | 365 (38) |
| ≥30.0 | 221 (23) | 260 (27) |
| Smoking status* | ||
| Never | 523 (55) | 501 (53) |
| Past | 397 (42) | 374 (39) |
| Current | 36 (4) | 78 (8) |
| Comorbidities | ||
| Diabetesb* | 72 (7) | 153 (16) |
| Atrial fibrillation* | 55 (6) | 92 (10) |
| Angina* | 53 (6) | 90 (9) |
| Revascularization* | 11 (1) | 38 (4) |
| Medications | ||
| Aspirin* | 238 (25) | 295 (31) |
| Antihypertensive* | 319 (33) | 449 (47) |
| Lipid-lowering | 157 (16) | 182 (19) |
| Statins | 83 (9) | 92 (10) |
| HRT | 363 (38) | 381 (40) |
GED, General Equivalency Diploma; BMI, body mass index; HRT, hormone replacement therapy
*
McNemar's chi-square or paired Student's t test P ≤ 0.05, as appropriate.
a
Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mm Hg or a diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mm Hg or self-report of antihypertensive medication use.
b
Diabetes was defined as having a fasting glucose level ≥ 126 mg/dL or being on treatment for diabetes by self-report.